Wednesday, February 24, 2016

As a youth basketball coach, Stephen Souky has helped many amateur
athletes through the intricacies of the sport. While the rules and
scoring structure may seem simple enough, there are many complicated
issues in basketball that players need to understand in order to avoid
being penalized in any way. Below are some of the common, yet costly
mistakes that players make while on the court.

Traveling
In
basketball, traveling is when a player moves their feet without
properly dribbling the ball. However, pivoting on one foot with the ball
is allowed, so long as your pivoting foot doesn’t lift or slide. Some
beginners will be so worried about being called for traveling that they
do not think about the pivot privilege; however, it is one that can
make a great difference in offense.

Shooting Over the Three Point Line
When
a player goes for a three-point shot, it is essential to remember that
the player’s feet must land outside of the three-point line in order
to get the full three points. Some players make shots by jumping over
this line and then get frustrated for not being awarded points, but it
is the proper rule of the game.

Stephen Souky has helped many players develop their skills to avoid these mistakes.
​

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Stephen Souky is a youth basketball coach who has led his tams to
victory through showing them ways to score more points. In basketball,
the scoring is quite simple, as a player can only score so any points in
a given scenario. Below are the main scenarios in which points will be
put on the board.

Single-Point Scenarios

Basketball
players earn a single point for every foul shot they make. A foul shot
is taken from the foul line, which is near the top of the key. A player
can be granted one, two or three foul shots per penalty, depending on
where the player was shooting from, whether they scored or not, or the
severity of the penalty itself.

Two-Point Scenarios

A player’s team is awarded two points for every shot scored within the three-point line.

Three-Point Scenarios

A
player can score three points in a single play through a few different
scenarios. The player can make a shot from behind the three-point line;
the player can make a shot inside the three-point line and be fouled,
leading to an extra foul shot; or a layer can be awarded three foul shot
attempts as a result of a technical foul on the other team.

Four-Point Scenarios

A
player can score four points in a single play if the player hits a
three-point shot while being fouled by an opponent, allowing for a foul
shot.

Stephen Souky has seen all these scenarios and more happen in basketball.
​

Friday, February 12, 2016

Stephen Souky is an experienced youth basketball coach who has led
amateur athletes to championships. He is well-versed in teaching the
fundamentals of the game to others, and he appreciates the importance of
having a good shot. In basketball, points scored is one of the ultimate
stats upon which players are judged. It is also the basis upon which
teams are judged, as the scoreboard is the ultimate decider of every
game. Below are some basic tips to improve your shot accuracy.

Establish a Guiding Hand
When
shooting the basketball, most players will use one hand to push the
ball into the air and towards the basket, while they’ll keep another
hand to the side of the basketball in order to properly guide it towards
the basket. Many players prefer to use their dominant hand as a pushing
hand, so the other must be steady and ready to stabilize the shot.

Use Proper Footwork
The
direction of your shot depends highly on the posture of your body,
which relies on your feet while standing vertically. The better your
footwork is, the better your posture will be when you take shots, which
will improve your accuracy and gain a more direct idea of where to place
the ball.
Stephen Souky teaches his players this and more so that they can become more effective shooters.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

As a youth basketball coach, Stephen Souky is skilled in teaching the fundamentals of the sport as well as helping seasoned athletes improve upon their own abilities. One of the first skills that a basketball player needs to develop is to properly dribble.

Dribbling is when players bounce the ball off the ground using their hands. In basketball, players must dribble the ball whenever they are in motion. If they move too many steps without dribbling the ball, they will be called for traveling. If they dribble, hold the ball, then start dribbling again, the referee will call a double-dribble. It is essential to be good at dribbling in basketball because it is the only way you can move around with the ball.

While it is important to be able to dribble with both hands, most beginners will often establish a dominant hand to do most of the dribbling from the start. Once you find that hand, start dribbling it while standing still. From there, you can start walking and eventually speed up to a running level. One you have become comfortable enough with your dominant hand, you should try switching hands immediately so that you can confuse your opponents.

Stephen Souky is the President of Niskayuna Girls Travel Basketball, and led his team to a 2015 championship.

About Me

Now a coach of youth girl’s basketball, Stephen Souky was originally a high school and college basketball player, himself. At 6 feet, 4 inches, Stephen Souky was an obvious choice as a forward, and developed quite a reputation for his scoring prowess. In high school, Stephen Souky played for Linton HS in Schenectady, where he was named an all star, and in college, Stephen Souky lent his height and skill to the men’s basketball team at the State University of New York at Fredonia.